But research says that soft colors and music can soothe such people. And speaking to them in quiet tones with respect, reassurance and patience can do the same.

And that is Julie Hamlin's unique and wonderful gift. With warm brown eyes and an easy smile, she exudes a disarming but low-key cheer. For the past three years, the 56-year-old former teacher has devoted most of her free time to working with participants at Alzheimer's Family Services Center (AFSC) in Huntington Beach, an intimate environment that offers day time activities, meals and care to about 70 sufferers of Alzheimer's and dementia from Orange County. It is affiliated with the Hoag Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach.

"I feel like there's something in there," Julie says of the participants at AFSC. "I am always trying to access that, to find a way to get in." Even the people who do not speak get to do watercolor painting, play games or even take a few cooking lessons. "They're picking up a lot," Julie believes. "I feel that's got to add to the quality of their life."

The highly trained staff at AFSC understands just how unusual Julie's gift is, and how lucky they are to have her.

"You're not going to get that immediate gratification," says Aimee Ruiz the Volunteer Coordinator, about working with Alzheimer's sufferers. "It's not like picking up trash on the beach when you can look back and see a clean beach. You're not always going to get a smile here. But Julie has an amazing gift; it's heaven sent."

Step into a room on a weekday morning and you'll see about 10 elderly women sitting at a table, each working on a watercolor. Nearby, a group of six older men take turns playing a bean bag toss with a staff member. The walls are a soft mauve color and on them hang art pieces and posters for old movies such as Laurel and Hardy. And there is Julie sitting at a table, talking quietly with two gentlemen and a woman, as if they were longtime good friends.

"There's one woman who doesn't speak, and her expression is really plain, but she watches with her eyes," says Julie. "I was with her once and she was just staring, then all of a sudden she cracked a bit of a smile." Julie intuitively feels that these people need personal contact. "This is a wonderful program, and I'm blessed to be a part of it," she says of AFSC. "If they weren't here, these people would just sit at home. Here they get lots of stimulation. It's just good to be giving someone who may be at the end of their life a quality of life."

A long time ago when she lived in Santa Barbara, Julie knew a doctor, an intellectual man who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She watched as his family was devastated by the disease – the adult children argued over the proper care for him while his wife took on the burden of it. Only when he finally was taken to a facility like AFSC did he get the care he needed and could the family come back together.

There is no cure for Alzheimer's and family members need places like AFSC as much as the sufferers do – they need a break from the care as well as the counseling and support that AFSC offers. Seeing this, Julie has actively worked at fundraising for AFSC, raising awareness of the place in the community.

"She hit the ground running as soon as she came here, and became involved in all aspects of our agency," says Ryan Kadowaki, the Communications Coordinator of AFSC.

"I'm kind of a passionate about this," Julie says. "There are so many more older people these days who don't always have the best situation. They can't advocate for themselves – who do they have to take care of them?" A lot of facilities for Alzheimer's sufferers don't provide the individual attention that AFSC does. In fact AFSC was designed specifically to calm their participants, with soothing décor and a looping hallway through which they can wander safely.

Listening to Julie talk, it's clear how sensitive she is to these folks, no matter where they are on the Alzheimer's continuum. She enjoys listening to their stories, which are often rooted in their past lives.

"I try to think of a comment they can make a connection with," she says. "Even the ones who don't speak at all still have cognition and are able to play bingo or listen to music. We have wonderful artists and musicians in this group."

Then there are those who – at ages well into their 80s – will ask, "When is my mother coming to pick me up?" Julie says: "I go along with them and follow the conversation they're having. It's an interesting disease, it has many different stages."

In our modern society which often seems incapable of caring for, or even acknowledging the older population, Julie Hamlin's compassion and care are rare qualities.

"It takes a special person to be able to work with our participants," says Ryan Kadowaki. "Julie is very calm and always has a smile. For our participants to see that, it's very important. Yes, they have a home they go to every night. But it's important that we give them our highest level of respect, to treat them like adults. At the end of the day they are our elders."

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